Published: Sunday, March 24, 2013 at 7:11 p.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, March 24, 2013 at 7:11 p.m.

Katniss Everdeen may have won the Hunger Games, but she never was pitted against Percy Jackson.

And Junie B. Jones, for that matter.

With a March Madness-type bracket, Brunswick County Schools' tournament of characters is pitting storybook figures against each other in a districtwide popularity contest.

The goal is to create meaningful discussions from middle school students about the books they are reading and foster a sense of pride in literacy efforts. The goal is to further the county's "Today a Leader, Tomorrow a Leader" initiative that encourages reading efforts to boost test scores.

This is the second year the district has put on the event, but this year has been much more successful, said Acacia Dixon, instructional technology coordinator.

Students logon to computes and vote for the characters they want to see in the finals.

"We have had 17,000 hits to our website since it started," Dixon said on Tuesday. "We don't get that much traffic."

The bracket showdown has created intense debate among students about who is the best.

Is it Katniss? Or is it Percy? Or even Bella Swan?

A group of sixth-graders voting at Shallotte Middle School's library couldn't come to a consensus.

"They're all good," said Julia Dangori. "I just can't wait to see who wins."

Jaquel Williams said he is a Percy Jackson fan. But William Walker said Bella Swan or Katniss Everdeen could take the tournament.

It doesn't matter who wins, said reading teacher Ginny Pridgen. That's because the kids are learning the value of a good story.

"They're engaged in it," Pridgen said. "And this has brought out discussion."

Even the class assignments on why students think their favorite character is the best has seemed more like play than work.

"It shows how much you love reading," Noah Harts said. "And you have to tell someone how great your favorite is."

But no matter who the eventual winner is of the tournament, the real champions seem to be the librarians at the schools.

"It makes my job that much easier, when the library is full of excited students," said Jennifer Murphy, Shallotte Middle's media coordinator.

<p>Katniss Everdeen may have won the Hunger Games, but she never was pitted against Percy Jackson.</p><p>And Junie B. Jones, for that matter.</p><p>With a March Madness-type bracket, Brunswick County Schools' tournament of characters is pitting storybook figures against each other in a districtwide popularity contest.</p><p>The goal is to create meaningful discussions from middle school students about the books they are reading and foster a sense of pride in literacy efforts. The goal is to further the county's "Today a Leader, Tomorrow a Leader" initiative that encourages reading efforts to boost test scores.</p><p>This is the second year the district has put on the event, but this year has been much more successful, said Acacia Dixon, instructional technology coordinator.</p><p>Students logon to computes and vote for the characters they want to see in the finals. </p><p>"We have had 17,000 hits to our website since it started," Dixon said on Tuesday. "We don't get that much traffic."</p><p>The bracket showdown has created intense debate among students about who is the best.</p><p>Is it Katniss? Or is it Percy? Or even Bella Swan?</p><p>A group of sixth-graders voting at Shallotte Middle School's library couldn't come to a consensus.</p><p>"They're all good," said Julia Dangori. "I just can't wait to see who wins."</p><p>Jaquel Williams said he is a Percy Jackson fan. But William Walker said Bella Swan or Katniss Everdeen could take the tournament.</p><p>It doesn't matter who wins, said reading teacher Ginny Pridgen. That's because the kids are learning the value of a good story.</p><p>"They're engaged in it," Pridgen said. "And this has brought out discussion."</p><p>Even the class assignments on why students think their favorite character is the best has seemed more like play than work.</p><p>"It shows how much you love reading," Noah Harts said. "And you have to tell someone how great your favorite is."</p><p>But no matter who the eventual winner is of the tournament, the real champions seem to be the librarians at the schools.</p><p>"It makes my job that much easier, when the library is full of excited students," said Jennifer Murphy, Shallotte Middle's media coordinator. </p><p><a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic9907"><b>Jason Gonzales</b></a>: 343-2075</p><p>On <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/news41"><b>Twitter</b></a>: @StarNews_Jason</p>